The media and the real estate industry in the past have enjoyed many cocktails together, toasting a relationship of convenience.

But amid headlines screaming “bubble,” “cartel” and other real estate unmentionables, and with television plucking the most venal agents for use on “reality” real estate shows, the relationship is no longer so convivial.

We can point to housing bubble hype to illustrate this. Real estate, like any other industry, has its ups and downs. But talk surrounding real estate’s “down” began long before there was any sign of it.